Contempt: IGP files motion to set aside proceedings, order committing him to prison

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali Baba, has approached the court to set aside the contempt proceedings and order committing him to prison issued two days by a federal high court judge.

In the motion filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, Baba said that he had not been appointed into office as IGP when the case was instituted and the reinstatement order in question granted.

According to CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force spokesman, the IGP also confirmed that the contempt proceedings were served not on him as the incumbent police chief but via substituted means in November 2018 and January 2019 respectively on the then Inspector-General of Police.

He said: “The IGP in his disposition further noted that even before his assumption of office, official steps had been taken by his predecessors toward complying with the reinstatement of Patrick C. Okoli, the plaintiff, as ordered by the court.

“As noted by him, this was evidenced by an official letter addressed to the Police Service Commission on the approval of the then Inspector General of Police, as far back as 2015.

“And before the court order of November 29th, 2022, requesting the commission to issue a reinstatement letter to the plaintiff and also effect his promotion in line with the order of the Court and in the exercise of their statutory authority in that regard.

“Hence, the grounds for the contempt proceedings ought not to have existed, ab initio.”

The IGP, however, reassured Nigerians of his unalloyed commitment and steadfastness in defending the rule of law and respecting judicial authorities.

“I will not wittingly or unwittingly disobey any order validly granted by courts of competent jurisdiction.”

Persecondnews had reported that on November 29, 2022, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday convicted Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, and ordered him to be imprisoned for just three months for violating a legitimate court order.

The IGP was sentenced as a result of a case filed by a police officer, CSP Patrick Okoli, who was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigerian Police Force in 1992 based on Decree No. 17 of 1984 which had been abolished.

The court ordered the payment of N10 million to the applicant, Okolie, who served in Bauchi State Police Command as a Chief Superintendent of Police, as special and general damages for the unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional impairment of the applicant’s rights and privileges as a senior officer of the Nigeria Police Force from 1993 till date.

The judge said: “This court even ordered that the Assistant Chief Registrar (Litigation) write to the respondent to inform him of the pendency of this matter, which he did and the proof of receipt of same in the office of the respondent is before this court.

“it is unfortunate that the chief enforcer of the law is one who has deliberately refused to comply with the same law.”